Proposed Allegheny County Budget Released, Restaurant Report Grades
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald released his proposed operating and capital budget for 2015.
The $839.2 million budget calls for no tax increase, includes no one-time revenues for the third consecutive year, and holds growth at 2.7% over last year, the increases mainly being due to wage, benefit and health care costs.
"I'm proud of the fact that we continue to do the right things for the County's fiscal health, and that those results - continued growth of our fund balance, three upgrades to our bond rating, and continued appreciation of our county property values - are benefiting all residents," said County Executive Fitzgerald.
The Parks Department includes proposed increases to allow for the transfer of employees from the Parks Maintenance Division of the Public Works Department to Parks; it also provides for the creation of Park Rangers within the nine Allegheny County Parks.
The Health Department includes a proposed increase to provide for additional food safety inspectors as the Department ramps up its inspections and also moves toward a restaurant grading system.
Restaurants would get a second chance to improve, even a third chance if they pay for it.
"You fix those violations, you've improved, and that's a benefit to the restaurant that has an A on their door, and a benefit to the consumer," Fitzgerald said.
Several restaurant owners who oppose that policy spoke out at the meeting.
"An inspector comes in and sees a couple minor infractions, and they get a letter grade below an A, it would cause a lot of concern and we would lose business," Pattie Girasole said.
They argue the difference between an A and B could potentially ruin a business.
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